Ramp Up Marathon County Completes 5th Project of 2018

The fifth Ramp Up MC project of the 2018 season was completed on August 13-14 in Weston. Under mid August temperatures in the high 80's, a large number of Ramp Up volunteers responded to complete the project in 2 days. A big thank you goes out to all who turned out to work on the ramp project and to all of those who work so hard in the background to make it all possible.

We were also fortunate to get some media coverage from WSAW TV. Thank you Channel 7. The video and story can be viewed online clicking here.

Second Ramp Build of 2018 Season Completed

After a few rain delays, Ramp Up MC volunteers completed their second ramp build in the Colby area on June 21. The lengthy ramp spanned over forty feet. The crew will miss working in the Colby area and eating lunch for the last time this year at their new favorite lunch spot in Colby. Thanks to all the great volunteers who worked hard getting it finished.

Ramp Up Mararthon County Receives Award

Ramp Up Marathon County was recognized at InControl Wisconsin’s 2018 Aging Empowerment Conference on June 14, 2018 in Madison, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Erin Wells, Ramp Up MC Co-Chair and Aging & Disability Center Resources Manager and Ray Nowazyzk, Ramp Up MC Construction Coordinator represented Ramp Up Marathon County and accepted the 2018 Aging Empowerment Award at the conference luncheon on June 14. InControl Wisconsin partners with individuals and families, advocacy groups, government agencies, and many other community partners to promote Self-Determination and Self-Directed Supports. Ramp Up MC was nominated for the award by the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin.

Erin Wells, Ramp Up MC Co-Chair and Aging & Disability Center Resources Manager and Ray Nowaczyk, Ramp Up MC Construction Coordinator after accepting the 2018 Aging Empowerment Award.

A Nice Thank You Card...

One of our Ramp Up volunteers found this lovely note in the back of his truck when he got home from Tuesday's build...

First Ramp Build of 2018 Season Completed!

After a rain delay last week the first ramp build of the 2018 season was completed in the Colby area today under ideal conditions. As many as 10 Ramp Up volunteers were on hand each of the three days. The crew enjoyed the beautiful farm scenery of western Marathon County and discovered a new favorite lunch spot.

A Big Thank You From Ramp Up Marathon County

The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin/Holtz Krause Community Fund made a generous donation that allowed us to purchase a power generator to be used at ramp project work sites. More times than not, we do not have access to adequate power to operate the equipment needed to compete our ramp builds. The ability to run more than one piece of equipment at a time is greatly appreciated by our skilled volunteers as they build multiple wheelchair ramps and low-rise-long-tread steps that enable people of need to stay in their homes longer. It was put to good use today as the RUMC crew worked on a ramp build in the Colby area.

Once again, a big thank you to The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin/Holtz Krause Community Fund for generous support of Ramp Up Marathon County and for making our community a great place to live and work.

Thank You On Behalf of a 2017 Ramp Recipient

Building a ramp for someone in need means a lot to them not just in terms of accessibility but also safety as well. Here’s some Survey feedback we received  from one of our recent ramp recipients... 

How has RUMC affected your life?

Has taken a huge problem for us away. It had been a big problem with safety. Made it much safer for us to use.

Do you have any questions or suggestions?

Just thanks to everyone involved with this project.

– Donald D.

We are happy to help! If you know of a lower income adult in Marathon County who is not in a longterm care program and needs a ramp to safely enter and exit their home, please get in touch with a Resource Specialist from the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin to see if they qualify. 

2018 Ramp Up MC Build Season Kick Off

The 2018 build season kicked off with a pre-build day to get ready for a one of two ramp projects coming up in the Colby area. The crew enjoyed beautiful spring weather conditions as they pre built the ramp sections which will be transported to western Marathon County this week.

Transition of Ramp Up Co-Chairs

Bill Pogge (right) reviews ramp
plans with Ray Nowaczyk

Ramp Up Marathon County has always intentionally involved a diversity of individuals in its leadership team, including two co-chairs, one representing an organization who provides referrals and the other who is a "private citizen" volunteer.

This summer saw a Ramp Up Marathon County leadership transition.

Bill Pogge, a volunteer who had served as co-chair with Erin Wells (Aging and Disability Resource Center Community Resources Manager) for the Ramp Up leadership team stepped down to focus on work with Faith in Action’s Senior Home Safety Program and other personal interests.

Bill was an instrumental part of conceptualizing and actualizing Ramp Up. He wrote much of the by-laws, headed the work with funders and fiscal partners, and helped on site at the project builds. We sincerely thank Bill for all of his hard work and wish him all the best.

Mike Sydow

Mike Sydow has stepped into Bill’s former position, with Wells continuing as co-chair.

After 26 years as Marathon County Register of Deeds, Mike retired in January of 2017. When Ray Nowaczyk, a longtime friend of Mike’s and member of the Ramp Up leadership team, learned that the co-chair position would be vacant by mid-summer, he suggested that Mike check it out.

“I was more than wanting to be involved for quite a while,” Mike recalled. “I didn’t expect to be co-chair right away, but it’s OK.”

An interest in building runs in Mike’s family. His dad was always remodeling something or other, one brother is a builder and another is a building inspector.

But Mike has a special understanding of the need for ramps. He has been using a wheelchair since 1975 when he suffered a broken neck during a water skiing accident.

According to Mike, “It’s important for anyone with a disability to be able to get in and out of their home for work, medical appointments and social activities.”

And that’s just what the work that Ramp Up Marathon County does by funding and building ramps and specialized stairs for lower income Marathon County residents.

For more information about Ramp Up Marathon County, go to www.RampUpMC.org. 

Note from an Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin Employee

The whole purpose of our organization is to fund and build ramps for those in need who otherwise couldn't afford to have one built. It's always nice to hear that what we're doing makes a difference. One of the wonderful staff at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin recently sent us this note.

Just thought I’d share. . .  I met with one of your ramp recipients yesterday and asked how the ramp is working for him.  

His response was, “Great!  At first I didn’t think I would like it but now it’s working out really well.”  

He then proceeded to let me know that he has three squirrels he feeds who enjoy running up and down it and stare at him if he doesn’t give them their peanuts.  

Could you pass this along to the Ramp Up committee??  I’m sure they like to hear that they are making a difference even when it seems so obvious.

Thanks for taking the time to let us know. We all appreciate it.

If you know of a lower income adult in Marathon County in need of a wheelchair ramp or specialized stairs so they can get safely in and out of their home, please have them call a Resource Specialist at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin (1-888-486-9545) or Nancy at Midstate Independent Living Consultants, Inc. (1-800-382-8484 ext. 211). Either organization will help with the application to determine eligibility.